Orford passes greats' test

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Former Test halfbacks Peter Sterling, Tom Raudonikis and Greg Alexander have slammed the omission of Matt Orford from the Australian train-on squad, but selector Les Geeves said nobody should be shocked by the decision since the Melbourne halfback has never represented NSW.

Geeves, one of four Test selectors along with fellow Queenslander Des Morris and NSW pair Bob Fulton and Bob McCarthy, asked rhetorically: "When was the last time he played for NSW? Wouldn't you have thought the NSW selectors would've picked him by now if he was in line for the Australian team?

"That's not being critical of the bloke. I'm just trying to point out there are some other very good players to consider. Orford was definitely mentioned in discussions - and I'm not just saying that - but then we looked at the other options and made a decision.

"[Cronulla halfback] Brett Kimmorley was out for a while this year, but look at his form on the last Kangaroo tour. It was terrific and I think it's good to be loyal to a player under those circumstances. [Penrith's] Craig Gower is the current Australian halfback.

"Orford can probably be considered unlucky, but halfback is always one of the hardest positions."

But that reasoning had no impact on Sterling, who said Orford should be a certainty for the end-of-season Tri Series against Great Britain and New Zealand.

"Craig Gower is the No.1 halfback and Matt Orford should be going away as No.2," Sterling said. "I can't believe he couldn't even make the train-on squad. Brett Kimmorley rose to the occasion on the Kangaroo tour last year, but I don't think his overall form warrants selection.

"Matt Orford has been in great form, not just this season but going back to the start of last season. His time has come and I don't think it matters that he hasn't played for NSW or Australia in the past. He would handle playing Test football on his ear.

"We gave Orford the player of the year award on [Channel Nine's] The Footy Show on Thursday in a photo-finish from [Newcastle hooker] Danny Buderus and as good as Buderus played this year, I gave Orford my vote."

Raudonikis rated Orford in the same class as Gower and Kimmorley.

"It's a disgrace that he's not in the train-on squad," he said. "I don't know if he would go all the way and make the final squad, but he should go very close. Gower, Kimmorley and Orford are all on a par with each other."

Alexander said that while he regarded Gower and Kimmorley as numbers one and two, it would have been encouraging to include Orford in the train-on squad.

"Anything can happen," Alexander said. "Players can get injured and there have already been a couple of drop-outs in other positions. Orford isn't far away from making it at major representative level and I find it mystifying he couldn't make the train-on squad."

Kimmorley has played only two games since June because of a hamstring injury, but Geeves said that wasn't a concern because he was a seasoned player.

Orford is philosophical.

"There are a lot of good halfbacks around and I've just got to keep trying to play my best footy and hope that's enough to get me a start eventually," he said.